Devin White’s Buccaners demise had a crash landing yesterday, Joe believes. (more…)

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BY IRA KAUFMAN

It don’t come easy. You know it don’t come easy.

The Bucs have backed themselves into a coffin corner heading into the final game of the regular season. It’s win or go home, literally, when Tampa Bay faces the 2-15 Panthers in Charlotte.

Jobs are on the line, starting with the head coach. If the Bucs, favored by six points, don’t get the job done in Week 18, the Saints could steal the NFC South crown and trigger an offseason shakeup at One Buc Place.

Only one team was ready to play Sunday — and that’s inexcusable considering what was on the line. Of Tampa Bay’s three first downs in the opening half, two came courtesy of yellow flags.

The Bucs were outgained 202-44 after two quarters and the 23-13 final score won’t fool anyone who was there or who watched the debacle. If the Bucs wake up from their coma and beat the Panthers, this travesty will be quickly forgotten as they prepare for the NFC’s No. 5 seed in the postseason.

But make no mistake, Sunday’s lethargic effort serves as a reminder that this team is not close to being a championship contender. (more…)

Stunning production.

The 2023 Bucs have defined mediocrity. They couldn’t beat NFL heavyweights and have won eight games against average and weak clubs, largely what most Bucs fans expected.

But their quarterback has rung up very impressive passing numbers. Consider the following: (more…)

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It’s a fun and loaded year-end edition of The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports with Joe. Enjoy! Remember to subscribe to Ira’s podcast. Thanks to the many thousands that do!

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It’s a feisty episode from The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports with Joe, recorded live at the Big Storm Brewing Co. taproom in Odessa. Enjoy!

All the wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford! Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too, and more.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy!

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Reach out to Ira’s friend and GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new vehicles at Bill Currie Ford.

It’s a Christmas Day edition of The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports following the Buccaneers’ stunning blowout win. Dive in! Plenty on the holiday buffet.

All the wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford! Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too, and more.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy!

Click on through to shop at BillCurrieFord.com. Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is ready to help you PERSONALLY and give you the Ira Kaufman discount. Just ask! See their amazing O% financing offers right now.

BY IRA KAUFMAN

What a difference a day makes. December 10th to be exact.

That’s the day the Bucs rallied for a 29-25 victory in Atlanta. They haven’t been the same team since.

Just ask the reeling Jaguars, who were never competitive during Sunday’s 30-12 setback. That’s four consecutive losses for Jacksonville and four straight victories for Tampa Bay.

Had the Bucs lost to the Falcons that fateful afternoon, they would have dropped to 5-8, with seven losses in nine games. Todd Bowles would have been a dead man walking and Buc Nation would have turned their attention to a quarterback-rich draft. The Kyle Trask mob would have been howling for No. 2 to replace Baker Mayfield.

But that’s not what happened. Mayfield threw a game-winning TD pass to Cade Otton in Atlanta and the last two weeks has seen this offense and defense come together impressively. Suddenly, the Bucs have the look of a dangerous team. They can wrap up a third consecutive NFC South crown by sweeping the Saints next week and confidence couldn’t have been higher in the locker room after dismantling the Jaguars.

Talk about your changed narratives.

Buc Nation is warming up to Bowles, although it’s been a slow crawl. Mayfield has won over teammates, coaches and fans with his blue-collar approach and passion for the game. Three potential free agents — Mayfield, Mike Evans and Antonio Winfield Jr. — are making compelling cases to remain Buccaneers for 2024.

It could all come crashing down in the next two weeks, but that feels unlikely at the moment. Instead, it feels like this is a franchise that survived a midseason meltdown and came out stronger for the struggle. (more…)

Interesting comment from head coach Todd Bowles after today’s seal-clubbing of the Jaguars at The Licht House. (more…)

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Episode 2 of this week is a passionate affair. Enjoy!

All the wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford! Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too, and more.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy!

Podcast (ira-kaufman-podcast): Play in new window | Download | Embed

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Click above to shop now at Tampa’s first family of Ford, BillCurrieFord.com. Reach out to Ira’s friend and GM Sean Sullivan for a hearty JoeBucsFan discount, and remember their nationwide lifetime warranty on new vehicles at Bill Currie Ford.

It’s a Thursday edition of Ira live at One Buc Palace. Plenty is on the mind of The Sage of Tampa Bay Sports.

All the wisdom and fun of Ira and Joe is presented by Bill Currie Ford! Click play above or listen at Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Podbean.com, Stitcher, too, and more.

Bill Currie Ford is one mile north of Raymond James Stadium on Dale Mabry Highway, and Bill Currie Ford GM Sean Sullivan is Ira’s great friend. He’s ready to help you personally — and to give you the Ira Kaufman discount on top of all their amazing deals. E-mail, call or visit Sean at the Bill Currie showroom.

Big Storm beer from Big Storm Brewing Co. is the official beer of the podcast. Try Florida’s best craft beer, especially Bromosa, their amazing tangerine IPA. Listening to Ira is fun, free and easy!

Ex-Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman shares his inside knowledge.

Joe always pays attention when Richard Sherman talks Bucs, and today he was talking about unrest within the Buccaneers defense. (more…)

Bucs GM Jason Licht.

Joe has to give another standing ovation to Buccaneers general Jason Licht.

He’s in the midst of doing what the great GMs do. (more…)

Our beloved Buccaneers are December-ready.

It’s a beautiful thing. Joe is fired up! The Big Storm beer cans are in a celebratory mess on the floor of JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters. Joe gave the interns the green light to drink early in today’s glorious fourth quarter. (more…)

Strong message.

For Bucs fans hoping offensive coordinator Dave Canales may see the light and start using his superior weapons in the pass game more, rather than pounding the ball between the tackles hoping Rachaad White turns into Marshawn Lynch, Canales had a simple yet strong statement. (more…)

Todd Bowles is in his 13th NFL season as a head coach, defensive coordinator or a key leader within a defense.

Sadly, his 2023 unit is the worst Bowles has had in one critical category. (more…)

Is Todd Bowles a quarterback whisperer?

He didn’t whisper much to Tom Brady last season. (more…)

Almost didn’t come to Bucs.

Very cool story that Bucs AC/DC-loving general manager Jason Licht shared Sunday during the pregame show on the Buccaneers Radio Network. (more…)